Method of inhibiting or reducing biofilm in a petroleum production process

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to relates to methods of controlling biofilm, e.g., biofilm comprising microorganisms such as bacteria, which methods inhibit the formation of and/or reduce the amount of biofilm on a petroleum production surface, by contacting the surface and/or the biofilm with a petroleum field fluid comprising at least one compound which controls or inhibits the formation of and/or reduces the amount of biofilm.

1 . A method of controlling biofilm such as by inhibiting a formation of, or reducing an amount of, biofilm on a surface, optionally a petroleum production surface, the method comprising contacting the surface and/or the biofilm with a petroleum field fluid comprising an effective amount of one or more compounds according to Formula (I): 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
         R1, R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom; halogen atom; hydroxy group; amino group; alkylamino group, alkyl group, hydroxyalkyl group, haloalkyl group or alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; or an acylamido group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and 
         A represents 2-thiazolamine; 2-propenenitrile; 2-propenoic acid; alkyl ester or hydroxyalkyl ester of 2-propenoic acid having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; or a —CHCHCONR5R6 group, where R5 and R6 represent independently a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and 
         further wherein the biofilm comprises microorganisms, optionally bacteria. 
       
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the petroleum field fluid comprises an aqueous fluid and/or the petroleum field fluid comprises water. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein Formula (I):
 R1 represents methyl group; ethyl propyl group; butyl group; methoxy group; ethoxy group; propoxy group; isopropoxy group; n-butoxy group; or tertiary butoxy group; and 
 R2 and R3 represent independently hydrogen atom; methyl group; ethyl propyl group; butyl group; methoxy group; ethoxy group; propoxy group; isopropoxy group; n-butoxy group; tertiary butoxy group; and 
 A represents 2-propenenitrile 
 
     
     
         4 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein Formula (I):
 R1 represents methyl group; ethyl propyl group; butyl group; methoxy group; ethoxy group; propoxy group; isopropoxy group; n-butoxy group; tertiary butoxy group; or amino group; and   R2 and R3 represent independently hydrogen atom; methyl group; ethyl propyl group; butyl group; methoxy group; ethoxy group; propoxy group; isopropoxy group; n-butoxy group; tertiary butoxy group; and   A represents a —CHCHCONR5R6 group, where R5 and R6 represent independently a hydrogen atom; an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; optionally wherein R5 and R6 represent hydrogen atoms.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the compound according to Formula (I) is 3-[(4-methylphenyl)sulphonyl]-2-propenenitrile or 4-amino-N-2-thiazolyl-benzenesulphonamide. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the compound according to Formula (I) is selected from group consisting of 3-phenylsulphonyl-2-propenenitrile, 3-[(4-fluorophenyl)sulphonyl]-2-propenenitrile, 3-[(4-trifluormethyl-phenyl)sulphonyl]-2-propenenitrile, 3-[(2,4-dimethylphenyl)sulphonyl]-2-propene-nitrile, 3-[(3,4-dimethylphenyl)sulphonyl]2-propenenitrile, 3-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-sulphonyl-2-propenenitrile, 3-[(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)sulphonyl]-2-propenenitrile, 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)sulphonyl-2-propenenitrile, 3-[(4-methylphenyl)sulphonyl]prop-2-enamide, 3-[(4-methylphenyl)sulphonyl]prop-2-enoic acid, and any of their isomers. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the petroleum field fluid comprises at least one compound according to Formula (I) in an amount ranging from 0.01-100 ppm, 0.01-25 ppm, or 0.01-15 ppm. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to any of the foregoing claims, wherein the petroleum field fluid comprises at least one compound according to Formula (I) in an amount ranging from 0.01-10 ppm, 0.01-2 ppm, or 0.1-2 ppm. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the microorganisms comprise acid-producing bacteria (APB), sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and/or general heterotrophic bacteria (GHB). 
     
     
         10 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the petroleum field fluid is selected from the group consisting of a stimulation fluid, squeeze fluid, fracturing fluid, drilling mud, workover or completion fluid, hydrotest fluid, and an injection fluid for reservoir maintenance or Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). 
     
     
         11 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the temperature of the petroleum field fluid is at least 30° C., at least 40° C., or at least 50° C. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the petroleum field fluid comprises hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of alkenes, alkanes, arenes, heteroaromatic molecules and any mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the petroleum field fluid comprises one or more chemical additives, optionally at least one chemical additive that is a water-soluble polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein the petroleum field fluid further comprises at least one biocide, antimicrobial agent, or any combination thereof, optionally wherein the biocide and/or antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA), 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (Bronopol), quaternary ammonium compounds, carbamates, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (CMIT), and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one (MIT), chlorine, salts of hypochlorite, hypochlorous acid, chlorinated isocyanurates, bromine, salts of hypobromite, hypobromous acid, bromine chloride, chlorine dioxide, ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and peroxy compounds, such as peracetic acid or performic acid. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein said one or more compounds do not act as biocidal agents.